Between the years 2008 and 2010 CSIR Built Environment embarked on a joint project with the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) to develop a rural community sustainable development portal. The portal provides a point for interaction, dialogue and exchange of experiences, practices and success stories in rural areas of developing countries. The vision of the rural development portal is to provide leadership in rural development matters through focusing on developing countries. The portal aims to be a prime rural and development knowledge and solutions resource site for Africa and the developing world. This should ultimately facilitate the development of projects and programmes that transform rural spaces, cultures and people from poverty to prosperity through championing and fostering inclusive rural development agendas.